Invitation to open the box and play with sand

International Business Machines (IBM) was finding it increasingly difficult getting people to attend its seminars and conventions. Fewer and fewer wanted to travel and spend time out of the office or home.

Getting them to come to a new office opening seemed a task that had disaster written all over it, until Ogilvy Bangalore came up with an invite with a difference.

Invitees received a large black box that contained a pouch of sand. They were instructed to pour the sand onto the enclosed plain white card and then read the message that appeared on it.

The sand when poured and dusted off, got stuck to invisible gum on the white card, and revealed a message: “IBM Opens in Qatar” – an interactive device relevant to the desert city of Qatar.

The task was very successful and had high recall. 340 invites were mailed out and 135 respondents attended. A 40% response rate. The entire exercise is now going to be replicated in other Middle Eastern markets.

Credits – Executive Creative Director: Ajanta Barker. Creative Director/Copywriter: Gautam Dev.